Fermenter.



N0- s 27,14s. PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

D. GORDON.

FBRMENTER. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.13, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

h ATTORNEYS PATEN'IED JULY 31,1906. No. 827,148" D. GORDON. FERMBNTBR,APPLIGATION FILED AUG.13,,1904.

2 SEEETSSHBBT 2- iATTORNEYS III IIIIII/ s toCa similar conical portionof the cylinder,

. treating cocoa-beans, and particularly to ap- .UNITED STATES Pg m:OFFICE.

' DOUGLAS GORDON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO "MARCUS MASON& COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N J Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FERMENTER.

tain new and useful Im rovements in Fermenters, of which the fol owingis a specifica tion, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,'forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to machinery for paratus in which the beans may befermented.

- My device comprises a closed barrel or cylinder having suitable meansfor ventilating same and provided with means by which the barrel orcylinder may be revolved and with means for controlling the ventilation.Preferably the barrel or cylinder is arranged substantiallyhorizontally, but with a slight inclination toward the rear, or that endpierced by the ventilating-holes.

The object of my invention is to economically ferment a large quantityof cocoa-beans at one time, causing the action to take place equallythrough the entire mass, so that the resultin product will be uniform.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceedto describe an embodiment thereof havingrefe'rence to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating same, and will then point out the novel featuresin claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a fermentingapparatus embody ing my invention. Fi 2is an end view of the samelooking in t e direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end viewof the same lookin in .the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1. ig. 4 isa view in central vertical lon itudinal section through the device.

e machine consists enerally of a cylinder or barrel 1, rotatabTy mountedupon a truck or carrier 2. The cylinder or. barrel 1 comprises a clindrical shell 3 which maybe of wood or ot er materiallined withwood orother acid-resisting substance, a rear end head 4, rigidly secured tothe cylindrical and cross-bars 7 7, engaging hooks 8 8 upon 0 positesides of the said shell, serve to keep t ehead place. Metal straps orhoops 9 encircle the barrel or cylinder and serve to strengthen'same,two of the said metal stra s or'hoops 10.10 servin also as circular tracs Patented July 31,1906. Application filed August 18,1904.8oria1No.,220,614.

for supporting; the cy inder and u on which it is adapted to berevolved. T e truck'2 comprises a framework 11 and wheels 12, Which maybe arranged to run on suitable tracks, as may be desired. The frame 11is preferably arranged at an angle with respect to the axes of rotationof the Wheels12, so that the cylinder sup orted thereby will have aslight rearward inciination.

The framework 1]. of the truck supports two longitudinal shafts 13 and14, journaled in suitable bearings 15, arranged upon opposite sides ofthe vertical lane in which the axis .of rotation of the cy inder 1 lies.The shafts 13 each carry two flange-supporting wheels 16,- arrange toengage the circular tracks 10. The said wheels 16 are preferably looselymounted upon their respectlve shafts. so thatthey will turn freelythereon. The shaft 13 constitutes a drive-shaft and is provided at oneend with a handle 17 and at the other end with a sprocket-pinion 18. The

shaft 14 constitutes adriven shaft and is pro vided with a sprocketspur-gear 19. A

sprocket-chain 20 connects the spur-sprocket 19 with the pinion-sprocket18 in driving relation. The shaft 14 carries a gear-pinion 21,

rigidly secured thereto, which is arranged. in

mesh with a gear-ring 22, secured around the cylinder or barrel 1. Powerapplied to the handle 17 to rotate the shaft 13 will slowly rotate theshaft 14, by reason of the sprocketand-chain connection and will therebyslowly rotate the cylinder or barrel, the flanged wheel 16 turningfreely upon the shafts, and

revolubly su porting the cylinder.

The cylin or is provided longitudinally on its interior face withangular trou he 23,

forming a plurality of longitudinal 'c annels within the cylinder at theinterior face thereof. The troughs pass through the rear stationary head4, so that the said channels inclosed thereby open to the atmosphere, asat 24, throughthe said end head. Doors or gates 25, secured to theinterior of the" end too head 4, serve as means for closing or openingfices 27, arranged near the outer edge thereof,

and 0 ening into the interior of the cylinderbarre against its innerface.

The cylinder or barrel may be-conveniently provided with acharging-opening 28, which may be closed when the machine is operatingby a door 29.

The apparatus is operated as follows: The cylinder is first charged toabout two-thirds full with unfermented cocoa-beans, which it is desiredto ferment. It may be partially charged, as a matter of convenience,-when the front head 5 is removed, as a lar er-quantity maybe admittedtherethrough than through the charging-orifice 28. After the machine hasbeen partially charged the head 5 must be placed in position and securedtherein by means of the cross-beams 7. The remainder of the charge isthen inserted "through the charging-opening 28 and the door'29 finallyclosed. Tie passage of gases, air, or va or through the openings 27 maybe contro ed by manipulation of the doors '25. In first starting up themachine it is usual to leave all the doors open. so as to admit freepassage therethrough, and so to allow the escape of gases, vapors, andthe like from the interior of the cylinder durin fermentation of thebeans. After a pre etermined length of time, which may be for certainclasses of beans and in certain climates say twelve hours, the cylinderwill be partially rotated by power applied to the handle 17 and thedoors or gates 25 may be readjusted, if desired. on the first partialturning of the cylinder it is usual to close the three doors or gates,which are at that time in the lowest positions, leaving the three upperdoors open. This will ordinarily give enough ventilation for theapparatus. The apparatus will now be left again for another, say, twelvehours, so that the fermenting process may continue, and at the end ofthat time the cylinder may be given another partial revolution and thedoors 25 again readjusted,'so that the three lower doors will be closedand the three upper doors open. The cylinder may be partially rotated atintervals thereafter until the process of fermentation is complete, andat each partial revolution the doors may be readjusted, and, finally, ifdesired, all the doors during the final treatment may be closed and theorifices 27 only relied upon for ventilation. Usually, however, one ormore of the doors or gates 25 are left open during the whole rocess. Theactual time that is allowed to a se between the turning movements of theermenting-cylinder Wlll de end entirely upon the class of cocoa treateand the climate in which it is treated or the heat of the room in whichthe apparatus is contained. In Trini- .,dad, for instance, in a room atordinary atinospheric temperatures itis usual to give the cylinder aboutone-third of a revolution every twelve hours for from seven to ten days.

the process of fermentation is that during this period a considerablequantity of acid is preferably left open during the first 'part of Agiven ofl by the beans, which will fall toward the bottom of thecylinder and will flow out through the lowermost channel. This acid willof course also flow out through the small orifices 27.

The form of the troughs 23 is such as not only 'to inc'lose channels, ass ecified, but to act as means for tumbling t e beans when the cylinderis rotated and the cylinder -is preferably filled, but about two-thirdsfull, so as to permit such free tumbling whereby all the material mayget equal treatment.

After the process of fermentation is complete the front head 5 may beremoved and the contents-of the barrel removed.

It will thus be seen that my apparatus rovides means whereby the beansmay be sfi'rfited in their os'itions during the fermenting rooess, so tat all portions of the mass may erment equally, and it will also be seenthat the apparatus is exceedingly accessible for cleansing urposes, itbeing understood that the oyl-in or requires thorough cleaning, usuallybetween every fermenting operation.

The .device is a simple one, easy to handle, unlikely to get out oforder, the interior is ready of access, and the device as a whole is simlo and inexpensive to manufacture.

. i at I claim is-- 1. In apparatus of theclass described, thecombinationwith a rotatableeylinder-rnoun'ted with its axis oblique tothe horizontal, of a removable head therefor at its higher .end, meansfor securing the door thereto, perforated longitudinal vent-ilatingtroughs 1n the said cylinderagainst the interior face thereof, saidtroughs opening through the head at the lower end of the cylinder, andmeans for controlling discharge from the channels through the said head,said head ha ing also a series of orifices therethrou h, communicatingwith the interior of the cy inder in proximity to the inner facethereof.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a carrier and a cylinderrovided on 1ts inner face with l-ongitudina perforatedventilating-channels discharging through the rear head, and also with acircular series of orifices opening to discharge through the rear 'head,in proximity to the interior face of the cylinder.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a carrier and asubstantially horizontal cylinder rotatably mounted thereon, saidcylinder provided on its inner facewith longitudinal troughs extendingthrou h the rear head and provided with means or controlling same, thewalls of said troughs perforated throughout, connecting the channelstheremg: with the interior-chamber of said 5. Inapparatus of the classdescribed, the 15 m and the rear head provided with a combinatlon with.a sugport, two longitudiof orifices therethrough comnal shafts'ean'iedthere y; and arranged at a rn-withthe interior of the 'eyiinder, slilghtangle to the horizontal, supporting- 5 in proximity tothe'interiorfaeethereof. ro ers looselzamountedthereon gearmg'eon- '4.In apparatus of-the 'elass described, the neeting the s v ft'storotateaterents ds, :0 combination with a support, of two longituand a driveinionsecured on one 0 said shafts thereby, supporting-rollshafts, of aeyinder supported upon said rollemlooael mounted thereon, anngeonneet-'.ers, said cylinder having a gear nng arranged 4o ing the v to rotate atiiiferent sgeeds in mesh with theteeth of said dnveinion.,. and adrive-{Sim secured on one 0 said DOUGLAS GOR 0N shafts ofa'ey dersupported upon said ro ll- In presenoe of- J em,audi: 1inder a'gear-nngarranged Fnossm 'ABBOTI, inmeahwlththetoeth of saiddrive-piniofn. QHENRY H. THAYEB.

